Fitness and weight loss apps

Deciding on a suitable weight loss app – help me choose

While there are a growing number of apps to assist weight loss, very few are credible. A study assessing the quality of mobile apps for weight management examined the presence of the following evidence-based strategies (Rivera J et al, 2016)¹:

• self-monitoring capabilities which enable users to track parameters over time, such as weight, meals, nutrition (including protein, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, and water), physical activity, cardiometabolic indicators, sleep, mental health indicators, including mood, thought patterns, cognitions, and stress, environmental influences, and custom metrics
• goal-setting with or without customization, such as weight loss goals, calorie balance goals, water intake goals, and physical activity goals
• healthy eating support such as healthy eating guidelines, meal plans, calorie balance goals, and nutritional information for specific foods
• physical activity support such as  fitness plans, exercise guides, and tracking of daily physical activity
• social support such as online communication with other users
• weight and health assessment, with or without personalization such as BMI assessment
• motivational strategies including prompts, rewards, or gamified design
• personalized feedback such as through virtual meetings with a health coach or through notifications.

The study concluded that despite the abundance of mobile apps for weight management, the evidence-based quality of these apps remains generally poor. Very few apps included one or more of the above strategies. In addition, most apps do not involve health care experts in their development process, and have not undergone rigorous scientific testing. 

App reviews: weight loss apps

The following weight loss apps have been reviewed.

App name		Description	Clinical score
Noom Coach		Calorie counting with food database Weight tracking Integration with fitness tools Personalisation Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about Noom Coach
Calorie Counter		Calorie counter with food database Weight tracking Free recipes Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about Calorie Counter
MyFitnessPal		Goal setting- Nutrition, physical activity and weight Food diary Calorie counter Weight chart Exercise tracker Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about MyFitnessPal
Monitor Your Weight		Weight tracking Graphs Personalisation features Multiple profiles Non-obtrusive ads Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about Monitor Your Weight
Weight Loss Tracker		Weight tracking with graphs BMI calculator Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about Weight Loss Tracker
My Plate Calorie Tracker		Goal setting and food diary Energy tracking and nutrient intake Energy requirement calculator Reminders, graphs and reporting Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free (basic version), paid upgrade Read more about My Plate Calorie Tracker
My Diet Coach		Calorie counting through food and exercise Personalisation Reminders Minimal ads Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free (premium version on subscription basis) Read more about My Diet Coach
Excluded apps Sworkit(external link) : credit card details were needed before users could get a free trial of the app.

Related topics

Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app
Security and privacy of health apps
NZ Health App Library

References

1. Rivera J, McPherson A, Hamilton J, Birken C, et al. Mobile Apps for Weight Management: A Scoping Review(external link). JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2016 Jul 26;4(3):e87.